Development partners have been urged to mentor the young generation during the forthcoming Youth Month scheduled to take place from November 2 to 26 under the theme, ‘Youth, strive for self-reliance for fast development’.

Rosemary Mbabazi, the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Youth and ICT, made the call yesterday at a meeting that brought together the civil society, private and government sectors, NGOs and faith-based organisations. 

The meeting, held in Kigali, was organised by the ministry in collaboration with the National Youth Council to discuss the activities to be undertaken during the Youth Month.

"Faith-based organisations have various youth groups like choirs, among others. Why can’t we have singers who are self-reliant by initiating cooperatives and savings accounts? The young generation should grow with the culture of saving. No one else will plant that spirit except organisations and associations in which youth are classified. Families, churches and government should intervene in their development,” Mbabazi said.

She added that the country expects a patriotic, self-reliant, innovative and creative young generation for fast development.

Kazimiri Bizimana, who represented the Catholic Church, said during the forthcoming Youth Month, the church would organise various events, including a youth conference for 3,000 youth from across the country, where they will be engaged in various activities to contribute to the community.

Ben Ruhinda, who heads New Generation Association, said they had organised a youth conference dubbed, ‘Awake Generation’, where the participants will be urged to embrace job-creation.

Planned actions

Activities to be carried out during the Youth Month include building and renovating of houses for the vulnerable families, as well as training workshops on HIV/AIDS, family planning, drug abuse and reproductive health.

Other activities, according to the ministry, will include constructing playgrounds, general cleaning in homesteads, making terraces, planting trees, creating savings groups and trainings on government policies, among others.

The Youth Month was initiated to give the young generation an opportunity to participate in various activities that socially and economically impact the community.